Bill Cosby Will Stand Trial in 2004 Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Case

A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that Bill Cosby must stand trial in the felony indecent assault case related to allegations he sexually assaulted a woman after drugging her in 2004. Altogether, 58 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault.

Cosby and his accuser in this case, Andrea Costand, reached a civil settlement in 2005, but the case was reopened after a deposition Cosby gave was unsealed last summer. In that deposition, Cosby freely admits to giving women Quaaludes in order to sexually assault them.

The judge’s order came at a pretrial hearing this morning. From the Los Angeles Times:

District Judge Elizabeth McHugh found probable cause he was involved in a crime. The judge heard portions of accuser Andrea Constand’s police statement read in court.

The Montgomery County case is the only criminal charge facing Cosby, though he is also battling defamation, sex-assault and insurance lawsuits in other states.

His arraignment is set for July 20. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison.